Building a strong Ab (core) will benefit your entire body. It gives you a stronger looking physique and improves your balance and posture. Unfortunately, for many of us it might seem like an impossible feat to achieve. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Imagine . . . in less than six months you can have a flat belly and lose inches from your waist by doing targeted exercises – three to four times per week. You’ll be ready for spring and summer and the rest of your life.
Here are five moves you can do starting today to begin sculpting your abs . . . and they only take 10 minutes to complete. Start doing them today.
- Elbow Plank – Follow the directions in this video from Live Strong to perform the perfect plank. I hold my plank position for 1.5 – 2 minutes each time I do them. If you are just starting then try to hold yours for 10 -15 seconds with the eventual goal of holding them for 60 seconds.
- Push-up – You probably learned these in gym class back in junior high but stopped doing as you got older. Nothing has changed with them. There are variations to the movement but the principle is the same as it was back then. It will keep your entire upper core area, arms and chest flexed throughout the movement. I used to do sets of forty but these but these days I have slowed down the routine to do sets of 12 to 15 concentrated push-ups. This means it takes me 7 to 8 seconds to complete one repetition.
- Running in the plank position – This one really sets your entire core on fire. You will have to rest for 30 seconds after doing them. Get in the push-up position and run in place by bringing your knees up to your chest. As a beginner start by doing it for 10 seconds and work your way up to 30 seconds . . . over time.
- Crunch – Like the push-up these are the same ones you did in school way back when. Keep your core flexed throughout the movement.
- Side plank – These can be done by planking on your elbows or straight arm. Straight arm will put more stress on your arms and upper body.
To help trim belly fat you will also need to lose excess weight all over your body. Spot reduction is not possible unless you do the liposuction procedure . . . costing thousands of dollars with the good chance that you will gain it back in a year or less. You will need to follow a workout program that will help you lose it and keep it off.
Granted it will take some effort and time to get a flat and defined core . . . but with consistent work you can check this off your bucket list.
P.S. Motivation is crucial to staying fit. Living a vibrant life is a life-time endeavor and not just for a month. Learn motivational techniques that’ll keep you going when you just don’t feel like doing it. My evergreen manual will show you how to do this. Visit How to Prevent Pre-diabetes for more information.